news Covid19-Coronavirus updates and news

[Mister Funsky]

Having relatives and friends scattered all over the globe, I am getting an overload of input (some on the record and some off the record).

My intention for this thread is for community members from around the world to post first hand stories and/or links to information sources that, for the most part, should be reliable.

In my community, just outside a major southeastern city, 'assets' have been placed. Only because I have friends in both high and low places have I heard about some of this. At this point it is only some basic medical supplies that should be equally distributed anyway in preparation for a natural emergency (hurricane/wildfire/etc.).

I will start with posting a link to a site with current data that seems to come from an aggregate of sources and hope others will do the same as they come across similar sites/pages.

Because of the 'typhoid Mary' spread-ability of this disease, I feel we may be in for a really large spread globally which will impact the global economy and through extension, retail domain prices.

One thing is for sure...things will get worse before they get better.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/usa-coronavirus/

 

[koolishman]

Amidst all the gloom,

Santa Claus deemed essential worker, cleared to enter Irish airspace

Santa Claus has been deemed an essential worker and will not be subject to Covid-19 travel restrictions when he arrives in Ireland next month.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney confirmed the Government's decision to the Dáil in a move that will be met with relief by children across the country.

Mr Coveney told TDs that Santa Claus has now confirmed to the authorities his intention to fly to Ireland on December 24 as usual.

However, he warned that children should remain in their beds on the night as there was a need for Santa to socially distance.

 

[J Sokol]

United Airlines begins FIRST chartered flights to move batches of Pfizer COVID vaccine in refrigerated cases as the US prepares for mass distribution

The niece of a friend of mine is a health care worker in Michigan -- they were told they would be receiving the Pfizer vaccine as early as Dec. 1. I think we'll all feel much better once the health care workers get vaccinated.

 

[Mister Funsky]

Current Covid19 death numbers as of 8:00 am EST are below, primarily from the source in the original post (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus). If your country of interest is not listed below, simply go to the link above to do a search for relevant information.

Total: 1,451,937
United States: 271,029
Brazil: 171,998
South Africa: 21,378
United Kingdom: 57,551
Canada: 11,894
Mexico: 104,873
Poland: 16,746
Russia: 39,068
India: 136,267
Bolivia: 8,943
Japan : 2,051
Indonesia: 16,646
Italy: 53,677
Spain: 44,668
Belgium: 16,339
France: 51,914
Netherlands: 9,326
Chile: 15,278
Philippines: 8,333

 

[Mister Funsky]

The niece of a friend of mine is a health care worker in Michigan -- they were told they would be receiving the Pfizer vaccine as early as Dec. 1. I think we'll all feel much better once the health care workers get vaccinated.

One of my oncologists, that has become a friend over the years, also indicated the staff at his clinic were told to expect the vaccine within in the first week of December.

 

[Sutruk]

The U.S. Passes 4 Million Cases in November Alone, Doubling October’s Tally

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/1...f-november-doubling-the-record-set-in-october

The total number of coronavirus cases in the United States for November surpassed four million on Saturday, more than double the record set in October of 1.9 million cases. And the sharp escalation is likely to continue — or grow even steeper.

“We are on track to continue this accelerated pace of the epidemic and see even more speed of rise of cases because of the movement indoors, of activities around the country and because large numbers of people have moved around the country for the holidays,” said Tom Inglesby, the director of the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University.

More than 170,000 people in the United States are now testing positive on an average day. More than 1.1 million people tested positive in the past week alone. The country’s overall total, from the start of the pandemic, is over 13 million infections — by far the world’s largest outbreak.

 

[koolishman]

Vibrations of coronavirus proteins may play a role in infection

Using atomistic simulations, they looked at the mechanical aspects of how the spike proteins move, change shape, and vibrate. The results indicate that these vibrational motions could account for a strategy that coronaviruses use, which can trick a locking mechanism on the cell’s surface into letting the virus through the cell wall so it can hijack the cell’s reproductive mechanisms.

The team found a strong direct relationship between the rate and intensity of the spikes’ vibrations and how readily the virus could penetrate the cell. They also found an opposite relationship with the fatality rate of a given coronavirus. Because this method is based on understanding the detailed molecular structure of these proteins, the researchers say it could be used to screen emerging coronaviruses or new mutations of Covid-19, to quickly assess their potential risk.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2020.10.032

 

[Mister Funsky]

Those of us with knowledge understand the clock is ticking. The large amount of travel winding up today is going to lead to a significant spike in cases which will lead to a significant percentage spike in deaths...just in time for Christmas. Although the vaccine will start shipping within that period, it will do no good for those that have been exposed prior to getting the shot(s).

Current Covid19 death numbers as of 8:00 am EST are below, primarily from the source in the original post (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus). If your country of interest is not listed below, simply go to the link above to do a search for relevant information.

Total: 1,460,610
United States: 272,269
Brazil: 172,637
South Africa: 21,439
United Kingdom: 58,030
Canada: 11,976
Mexico: 105,459
Poland: 17,029
Russia: 39,527
India: 136,733
Bolivia: 8,949
Japan : 2,074
Indonesia: 16,815
Italy: 54,363
Spain: 44,668
Belgium: 16,461
France: 52,127
Netherlands: 9,326
Chile: 15,322
Philippines: 8,373

 

[koolishman]

Baby born with Covid-19 antibodies in Singapore - report

The baby was born this month without Covid-19 but with the virus antibodies, the Straits Times newspaper reported on Sunday, citing the mother.

"My doctor suspects I have transferred my Covid-19 antibodies to him during my pregnancy," Celine Ng-Chan told the paper.

Ng-Chan had been mildly ill from the disease and was discharged from hospital after two-and-a-half weeks, the Straits Times said.

Ng-Chan and the National University Hospital (NUH), where she gave birth, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The World Health Organisation says it is not yet known whether a pregnant woman with Covid-19 can pass the virus to her foetus or baby during pregnancy or delivery.

 

[Mister Funsky]

FAA confirms first 'mass air shipment' of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine from Belgium as US preps for distribution

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...-vaccine-faa-belgium-air-shipment/6445339002/

 

[koolishman]

These are the top coronavirus vaccines to watch

We are tracking 200 experimental vaccines aimed at ending the pandemic, a scientific quest moving at record-breaking speed.

Story from Washington Post.

 

[koolishman]

Sex and COVID-19: A Protective Role for Reproductive Steroids

Evidence shows coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced symptom severity and mortality is more frequent in men than in women, suggesting sex steroids may play a protective role. Female reproductive steroids, estrogen and progesterone, and its metabolite allopregnanolone, are anti-inflammatory, reshape competence of immune cells, stimulate antibody production, and promote proliferation and repair of respiratory epithelial cells, suggesting they may protect against COVID-19 symptoms.

 

[Sutruk]

These are the top coronavirus vaccines to watch

We are tracking 200 experimental vaccines aimed at ending the pandemic, a scientific quest moving at record-breaking speed.

The link on that one doesn't work. I have seen there's a Washington Post article with those words. Maybe pointing there?

 

[koolishman]

The link on that one doesn't work. I have seen there's a Washington Post article with those words. Maybe pointing there?

Mea culpa!

Done.

 

[Mister Funsky]

Current Covid19 death numbers as of 8:00 am EST are below, primarily from the source in the original post (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus). If your country of interest is not listed below, simply go to the link above to do a search for relevant information.

Total: 1,467,245
United States: 273,101
Brazil: 172,848
South Africa: 21,477
United Kingdom: 58,245
Canada: 12,032
Mexico: 105,655
Poland: 17,150
Russia: 39,895
India: 137,185
Bolivia: 8,952
Japan : 2,106
Indonesia: 16,945
Italy: 54,904
Spain: 44,668
Belgium: 16,547
France: 52,325
Netherlands: 9,349
Chile: 15,356
Philippines: 8,392

 

[Sutruk]

Covid-19: Moderna submits vaccine for FDA regulatory approval

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...mits-vaccine-fda-regulatory-approval-n1249323

"The Massachusetts biotech firm said it will ask the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization after completing its Phase 3 trial, finding the vaccine was 94.1 percent effective against Covid-19.

Moreover, Moderna said the vaccine was 100 percent effective at preventing severe cases of the disease.

These results were the same across all age, race and gender categories, the company said in a statement. There have been no serious safety concerns so far, it added, with the most common side effects being fatigue, headaches, and muscle and joint pain."

 

[Mister Funsky]

Current Covid19 death numbers as of 8:00 am EST are below, primarily from the source in the original post (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus). If your country of interest is not listed below, simply go to the link above to do a search for relevant information.

Total: 1,476,870
United States: 274,355
Brazil: 173,165
South Africa: 21,535
United Kingdom: 58,448
Canada: 12,130
Mexico: 105,940
Poland: 17,599
Russia: 40,464
India: 137,659
Bolivia: 8,957
Japan : 2,119
Indonesia: 17,081
Italy: 55,576
Spain: 45,069
Belgium: 16,645
France: 52,731
Netherlands: 9,438
Chile: 15,410
Philippines: 8,418

 

[J Sokol]

Coronavirus Was In U.S. Weeks Earlier Than Previously Known, Study Says

The coronavirus was present in the U.S. weeks earlier than scientists and public health officials previously thought, and before cases in China were publicly identified, according to a new government study published Monday.

"SARS-CoV-2 infections may have been present in the U.S. in December 2019, earlier than previously recognized," the authors said.

https://www.npr.org/sections/corona...eeks-earlier-than-previously-known-study-says

 

[Sutruk]

U.K. Approves Pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine, a First in the West

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/world/europe/pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine-approved-uk.html

"Emergency approval of the vaccine, ahead of the United States and the European Union, clears the way for Britain to begin mass inoculations.

Britain gave emergency approval on Wednesday to Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine, leaping ahead of the United States to become the first Western country to allow mass inoculations against a disease that has killed more than 1.4 million people worldwide.

The authorization to use the vaccine developed by Pfizer, a U.S. pharmaceutical giant, and BioNTech, a much smaller German firm, kicked off a vaccination campaign with little precedent in modern medicine, encompassing not only ultracold dry ice and trays of glass vials but also a crusade against anti-vaccine misinformation."

 

[Mister Funsky]

Current Covid19 death numbers as of 8:00 am EST are below, primarily from the source in the original post (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus). If your country of interest is not listed below, simply go to the link above to do a search for relevant information.

Total: 1,490,090
United States: 276,979
Brazil: 173,862
South Africa: 21,644
United Kingdom: 59,051
Canada: 12,211
Mexico: 106,765
Poland: 18,208
Russia: 41,053
India: 138,251
Bolivia: 8,963
Japan : 2,139
Indonesia: 17,199
Italy: 56,361
Spain: 45,511
Belgium: 16,786
France: 53,506
Netherlands: 9,504
Chile: 15,430
Philippines: 8,436

 

[Mister Funsky]

The article below seems to be updated on a regular basis. It has some pretty good information in a non-technical form and gives background and differences on the vaccines that are being produced.

I am curious if anyone has a preference on which vaccine would be best in your case/situation. Although the Pfizer vaccine would be the first I would have access to, I may wait for the Moderna version in January.

Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/science/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker.html

 

[MasterOfMyDomains]

This was on the news
https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/317778/Langley-church-fined-for-holding-in-person-service-Sunday

 

[MasterOfMyDomains]

https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/31...advises-against-intentional-COVID-19-exposure

People advertising online wanting to contract corona to build immunity.

 

[koolishman]

https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/31...advises-against-intentional-COVID-19-exposure

People advertising online wanting to contract corona to build immunity.

Sigh..

 

[Sutruk]

U.S. tops 14 million Covid-19 cases, sets daily record for deaths, cases and hospitalizations

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...new-cases-100-000-hospitalizations-u-n1249800

"The United States logged 14 million Covid-19 cases Wednesday just hours after setting three grim records, including the highest number of daily deaths, new infections and hospitalizations since the pandemic began.

The U.S. reported 2,777 coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday alone, according to an NBC News tally. The country registered nearly 205,000 new cases of Covid-19 on the same day, a figure that comes just a month after the U.S. single-day record topped 100,000 cases for the first time.

Meanwhile, more people than ever are hospitalized. The Covid Tracking Project reported that 100,000 people were hospitalized across the country.

“Cases are rising, hospitalizations are increasing, deaths are increasing. We need to try to bend the curve, stop this exponential increase,” Dr. Henry Walke, the CDC’s Covid-19 incident manager, said during a briefing."

 

[Sutruk]

CDC shortens quarantine period to 10 days with no symptoms

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/heal...uarantine-period-10-days-no-symptoms-n1249704

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is shortening the recommended quarantine period from 14 days after a person has been exposed to the coronavirus, offering two alternatives, the agency said Wednesday.

The first alternative is to end quarantine after 10 days if no symptoms are reported, Dr. Henry Walke, the CDC’s Covid-19 incident manager, said on a call with reporters. The second option is to end quarantine after seven days if an individual tests negative and also reports no symptoms."